Website checklist

Website checklist of stuff that we think you should consider when designing and developing your website. This website checklist is by no means complete, the checklist is a work in progress and is update often.

Initial website setup tasks

• Select a domain name should that is short, descriptive and easy to remember. If possible your domain name should include keywords about how you want people to find your business.
• Register your domain name and remember to renew your domain name (and certificates).
• Select a CMS (content management system) that can grow with your future website requirements.
• Select a high quality web host where you can get support for your CMS.

Other important initial website setup tasks

• If you plan to make many changes then setup a test server or development version of your website for testing.
• Schedule to run a website backup regularly. If possible automate your website backup. Regularly test your website backup to make sure it can be used to recover your website. Ensure that your website backup includes: programs on website (CMS, modules and plug-ins); files that are uploaded to your website (graphic, PDF, avatar, etc); and the database (where the CMS generally keeps all content and configuration).

Make sure your website does the obvious things

• Use an about page. People understand what an about page is and will look for one. Ensure that you provide an about pages so that people can easily learn more about you.
• Make your website identity obvious. Answer the questions "who are you" and "what do you do".
• Use the tagline to clearly state "what do you do". Your tagline is your unique selling or value proposition. Do not use jargon and use as fewer words as possible.
• Make it clear how people can contact you.

Make your website look professional and easy to use

• Give your website an attractive design. When selecting a theme ensure that the text is readable and navigation is consistent. Make sure your website looks like you care.
• Primary navigation should be obvious. Limit the number primary and secondary navigation options. Navigation titles should be easy to read, short and to the point. Use terms people are familiar with like "About", "Contact us", etc.
• Put the company logo with link to home page in top left corner. People just expect this.
• Make sure it is easy to understand and indentify links. Generally blue with an underline is OK.

Make a clear call to action

• Make it easy to get to the important stuff.
• Make it clear what you want people to do with your website.
• Provide a sitemap to help visitors navigate your website.

Keep your website up-to-date

• Make sure your website is regularly updated with quality content.
• Content should be easily read, concise and to the point.
• Important stuff should be at the top so that it is not hidden.
• Use lists where possible. Content should be well organised to help people skim for information.
• Your home page should be exciting and should communicate what your website is about.
• Your website should be engaging and encourage people to get involved. Ask people to get involved by leaving comments, voting or completing a survey.
• Make sure that content is checked for spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Don't use capitalisation in titles and headings.

Other important website stuff

• Test your website on various browsers, devices and at different screen resolutions.
• Make sure links are valid.
• Make sure that common phrase usage is consistent.
• Make sure that list formatting is consistent.
• Make sure important pages print correctly.
• Check HTML, JavaScript and CSS for errors.
• Make sure forms function correctly. Forms (includes blog comments, contact us, registration, etc.) pages.
• Check that data capture and field validation on forms is working correctly.
• Ensure format of response emails automatically generated by forms is correct.
• Enable anti-spam tools (e.g. reCaptcha).

Focus on keywords and other good SEO to help people find your website

• To help search engines list your content page titles and headings should contain relevant keywords.
• Keywords should be used in content.
• Enable XML Sitemap.
• Validate your website in Google Webmaster Tools.
• Make URLs meaningful and user friendly.
• Images should have appropriate ALT tags.
• Setup and monitor Google analytics.

Your website should be visitor and search engine friendly

• Make sure website load time is reasonable.
• Make sure website page file sizes are as small as possible.
• Turnoff verbose error reporting.
• Ensure anonymous users can not get access to website administration pages.
• Reduce the number of files your web pages require to load.
• Optimize images.
• Turn caching on.
• Setup custom 404/error pages.

Listen to what your visitors are telling you

• Reply quickly to comments.
• Monitor and response to feedback quickly. Where appropriate integrate your website with social marketing tools like Twitter and Facebook.
• Setup Google alerts to monitor your website.

If something is missing from the website checklist or if some details require more clarification please leave your suggestions in the comments.